Classification of facial features for recognition

A facial feature classification technique that independently captures both the geometric configuration and the image detail of a particular feature is described. The geometric configuration is first extracted by fitting a deformable template to the shape of the feature (for example, an eye) in the image. This information is then used to geometrically normalize the image in such a way that the feature in the image attains a standard shape. The normalized image of the facial feature is then classified in terms of a set of principal components previously obtained from a representative set of training images of similar features. This classification stage yields a representation vector which can be used for recognition matching of the feature in terms of image detail alone without the complication of changes in facial expression. Implementation of the system is described and results are given for its application to a set of test faces. These results show that features can be reliably recognized using the representation vectors obtained